Clark keeps Clarke at bay

A grandstand finish earned South African Tim Clark the £400,000 to the winner Barclays Scottish Open title at Loch Lomond yesterday.

Clark celebrated a magnificent performance, capped by an 18-foot birdie putt on the last green.

The reigning South African Open champion was level with Dutchman Maarten Lafeber with four to play, but the Eindhoven golfer bogeyed the 15th and Clark's superb finish gave him the title by two from Lafeber and Ireland's Darren Clarke.

Winner Clark shot 67 for a 19 under par aggregate which equalled Tom Lehman's tournament record on the course.

Darren Clarke returned only last week from a month off helping his wife Heather in her battle with cancer and heart problems, but he goes into the British Open at St Andrews with finishes of fourth and second.

Helped by sinking a 130-yard wedge for an eagle two at the fourth he fired a 66, while Ian Poulter charged into fourth place with a 65, out-scoring playing partner and twice winner Ernie Els by three over the weekend.

Nick Dougherty was tied for fifth with his former Walker Cup partner Luke Donald, who now hopes to dramatically improve an Open record of five starts, five missed cuts.

Clark said: "I'm extremely honoured to win this.

"On quality of field it's my biggest win, but it's always great to win your home title. Maarten played great too and the quality of golf kept us both going."

Clarke stated: "I've very excited about this week. Coming back last week I had no expectations.

"There's probably a lesson there, but I'm just not smart enough to realise it! "I couldn't quite get it close enough over the last few holes, but that's the best I've played this week. I've been struggling, but I went on the range last night for a couple of hours and figured a couple of things out.

"I'm grinding it out when I have to and sometimes you just have to wait for a day like today. Hopefully I'll get the grinding down and there will be more days like today."

Poulter is overjoyed about how he is playing going into his fifth Open 25th place last year was his best but was also critical of some heavy-footed golfer in front of him.

He would love to put a name to the culprit, saying: "Somebody is causing havoc. They have 14-inch spikes and I don't know how anybody can dig up greens that badly.

"Ernie and I were just laughing at the marks it was comical. You've just got to careful you don't twist your feet or do anything silly. And tap them down afterwards."